Epoxy firm blamed in Big Dig death
The company that provided the epoxy blamed in the fatal Big Dig tunnel collapse was indicted Wednesday in the death of a motorist crushed by ceiling panels.
Powers Fasteners Inc., was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter, Attorney General Martha Coakley said. The Brewster, N.Y.-based firm is the only company involved in the construction and design of the tunnel to be indicted by the Suffolk County grand jury.
A report from the National Transportation Safety Board released last month found the July 10, 2006, collapse could have been avoided if designers and construction crews had considered that the epoxy holding support anchors for the panels could slowly pull away over time.
Cincinnati
Woman kills man asking for quarter
A woman shot and killed a panhandler who asked her for 25 cents, police say.
“He asked her for a quarter,” Police Chief Tom Streicher said. “That’s apparently all there was to it.”
Donald Francis, who police believe was homeless, stood outside a gas station late Monday asking people for money. Geraldine Beasley had complained about Francis to someone else, and when he approached her she pulled out a gun and shot him, police said.
Beasley, 62, was charged with murder and on Wednesday was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Padadena, Md.
Candy wrappers lead to arrests
Doctors often warn of the health risks of eating junk food, but it seems the treats can be a problem for burglars, too.
Four teenagers broke into a gas station early Wednesday and left a trail of candy bar wrappers along the road as they left, said Cpl. Mark Shawkey of the Anne Arundel County Police Department. A police dog located the teens a quarter-mile away.
Three boys and a girl, ages 15 and 16, were charged with burglary and theft.
Frederick, Colo.
Priest caught jogging in buff
A Catholic priest faces an indecent exposure charge after jogging in the nude about an hour before sunrise.
The Rev. Robert Whipkey told officers he had been running naked at a high school track and didn’t think anyone would be around at that time of day, a police report said.
He told officers he sweats profusely if he wears clothing while jogging.
Whipkey, 53, was arrested around 4:30 a.m. June 22 in this town about 20 miles north of Denver.
The Archdiocese of Denver said it takes the incident seriously but is awaiting the outcome of the case. Whipkey remains an active priest.